Morgan County Commission District 3 candidates focus on roadways, facilities

MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (BNN)-- A long-time mayor and a county employee are challenging incumbent Don Stisher for the Morgan County Commission District 3 seat..

District 3 is one of four seats that amass attention in the upcoming Republican Primary..

Eva mayor Gary Livingston and Matthew Frost, who has worked with Stisher for over a years in the county commission as a mechanic, are first timers on the ballot. The two prospects say they are no strangers to the needs of district 3..

" I've had several people ask me state ‘‘ why do not you think of putting your name in the hat, because we know you will do the fair thing and do what requires to be done,' which's the only method I look at it," Livingston discussed.

Livingston has seen the county grow in his 31 years as mayor. He states sadly, the roadways in the southern part of the primarily rural county have not been up to par under district 3 incumbent county commissioner Stisher..

In particular, he was discussing Highway 55. The 35 mile stretch of roadway he states has been mostly ignored for almost 20 years..

" The last time we met on this roadway, it's been 18 years ago or a little bit longer, however somewhere because timeframe- we went over and the state assisted Mr. Stisher, and this road got repaved," said Livingston..

Sample ballots for the March 5, 2024 primary election.

Livingston states the stalemate has actually been the how the 'Rebuild Alabama' grant cash granted to the county will be distributed to make the road repair work.

Stisher told News 19 that his plan is to continue his present technique by leveraging his experience in county government to get the road up to speed.

" It will require a great deal of previous experience and attention and understanding of county government from taking care of the streets to dealing with the county, all officials with the county and in Montgomery as far as legislation and D-O-T, the department of transportation, and funding and money. We need to be extremely varied," stated Stisher.

Stisher says attending to employee retention problems, particularly for jailers at the Morgan County jail, are also key for the county.